Brighthouse Financial Upgraded; Price Target Lowered

Terry Bingman
Photo: Finoracle.net

Brighthouse Financial Stock: Upgraded to 'Market Perform,' Price Target Adjusted

Brighthouse Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: BHF) recently saw an upgrade in its stock rating. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised Brighthouse's rating from "Underperform" to "Market Perform." However, they slightly adjusted the price target from $48.00 to $47.00. This comes after a weak year-to-date performance of Brighthouse’s stock, which declined by 23% in contrast to gains in the life insurance and annuities sector.

Brighthouse vs. Competitors

While Brighthouse's stock dropped, competitors like Jackson (NYSE: JXN) saw a 38% increase, Corebridge Financial (NYSE: CRBG) gained 33%, Equitable Holdings rose by 21%, and Lincoln National Corporation went up by 16%. The reasons for Brighthouse’s underperformance include concerns over capital generation and the unpredictability of free cash flow trends.

Positive Steps Despite Challenges

Despite these challenges, Brighthouse has made steady improvements:

  • Enhanced business mix
  • Strengthened variable annuity hedging strategies
  • Predicted free cash flow yield of 13% for 2025E

These efforts were reasons behind the analyst’s decision to upgrade the stock to "Market Perform."

Other Analyst Opinions

Piper Sandler was less optimistic, cutting Brighthouse's stock price target from $55.00 to $50.00. They kept a "Neutral" rating, citing concerns about the lack of a clear timeline for earnings scenarios and a projected drop in fixed annuity sales. They also highlighted increased competition in the registered indexed linked annuity (RILA) market.

Recent Performance Highlights

Despite the challenges, Brighthouse Financial had some positive news in 2024:

  • Steady growth reported in Q1 2024
  • Improved risk-based capital ratio
  • Significant growth in SHIELD annuity product suite
  • 26% increase in life insurance sales
  • Repurchase of $62 million in common stock, showing commitment to shareholder value.

Investor Insights

Investors are closely watching Brighthouse Financial. InvestingPro data reveals:

  • Market capitalization: 2.55 billion USD
  • Price-to-book ratio: 0.61 (Last 12 months as of Q1 2024)
  • Quarterly revenue growth: 23.66% in Q1 2024
  • Significant gross profit margin pressure: Margin of -18.32%

Current Status and Future Outlook

Brighthouse is in a unique, transitional phase:

  • Management’s share buyback strategy indicates confidence.
  • Net income is expected to grow this year.
  • The Relative Strength Index (RSI) shows the stock is oversold, which could attract bargain hunters.
  • Trading near its 52-week low, analysts remain optimistic about a return to profitability this year.

Although Brighthouse does not pay dividends—potentially a downside for income-focused investors—the company's strong liquid assets position is a positive sign of financial stability.

Investors and analysts alike will be keeping a close watch on Brighthouse Financial’s next moves and market performance.

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Terry Bingman is a financial analyst and writer with over 20 years of experience in the finance industry. A graduate of Harvard Business School, Terry specializes in market analysis, investment strategies, and economic trends. His work has been featured in leading financial publications such as The Financial Times, Bloomberg, and CNBC. Terry’s articles are celebrated for their rigorous research, clear presentation, and actionable insights, providing readers with reliable financial advice. He keeps abreast of the latest developments in finance by regularly attending industry conferences and participating in professional workshops. With a reputation for expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, Terry Bingman continues to deliver high-quality content that aids individuals and businesses in making informed financial decisions.